OVERVIEW

The discipline aims to provide the necessary tools to decode the religious phenomenon of the classical world by addressing specific theological, ritual, mythical, and cultural issues in light of the latest hermeneutical approaches

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide the student with an introduction in general terms to the contents of the discipline and a series of hermeneutic tools linked to the history of religions as an autonomous object of critical reflection. The field of investigation will be delimited by the horizon of ancient polytheisms, in particular the Greek and Latin ones. A second, more thematic part will illuminate, through the analysis of sources, the relationship between traditional Roman religion, power and politics and foreign cults, with particular reference to the controversial relationship with Judaism and Christianity.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to achieve the following objectives:

• Provide the methodologies and hermeneutical tools to navigate the history of religions and fully understand the European academic debate that, starting from the late 19th century, led to the identification of a new disciplinary field and new historical research instruments.

• Furnish the conceptual categories and essential ancient and modern vocabulary of religious research.

• Analyze and interpret symbols, practices, and religious texts within their specific historical and social contexts.

• Integrate the study of ancient religions into the spectrum of all involved disciplines, from philology to history, archaeology, possible intersections with sociology, and historical psychology.

• Guide the student in initiating independent research on topics related to the study of religions, using appropriate research methods and critically analyzing sources.

Transversal Skills:

• Functional advanced literacy skills
• Advanced-level social skills
• Advanced-level personal skills

PREREQUISITES

No specific prerequisites are required. However, a basic knowledge of the ancient world and a critical interest in religious phenomena from a historical and comparative perspective are recommended.

TEACHING METHODS

Traditional lectures are complemented by presentations from experts and specialized scholars. A portion of the lectures will be devoted to actively engaging students in presenting a paper in class on a topic relevant to the subject matter of the course. While attendance is not mandatory, it is recommended.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

This course aims primarily to offer a methodological introduction to the history of religions, combining the study of sources and historical contexts with a critical reflection on the major categories through which religious phenomena have been interpreted and classified over time: the sacred, myth, ritual, divinity, revelation, salvation, and mediation. Particular attention will be paid to the limits and ambiguities these categories entail, especially when applied to culturally distant traditions.In the second part of the course, we will explore the issue of the translatability of divine names—that is, the set of practices and conceptual devices through which ancient polytheistic systems recognized in foreign pantheons deities analogous to their own, based on shared traits or functional affinities. This form of religious relationality will be examined beginning with the religious contexts of the Ancient Near East and Egypt, and continuing through the dynamics of interpretatio graeca and interpretatio romana in the Mediterranean world.Finally, we will consider the transformations these practices underwent with the rise of monotheistic religions, and how, despite shifts in theological and political frameworks, questions concerning religious otherness persisted, leading up to contemporary debates on pluralism and interreligious dialogue. Religious phenomena will thus be addressed in their anthropological, symbolic, and politico-cultural dimensions, in light of their historical transformations and their relation to the societies that express them.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The exam preparation involves studying the introductory essay concerning the specified pages (a), the designated text (b), and two articles of choice from the list that will be made available on Aulaweb (c).

A) A. Brelich, «Prolegomeni a una Storia delle religioni», in H.C. Puech (a cura di), Storia delle religioni. L'Oriente e l'Europa nell'antichità, Laterza, Roma-Bari, vol. I, pp. 1-55 (the essay will be provided).

B) P. Borgeaud, F. Prescendi, Religioni antiche: un'introduzione comparata, a cura di D. Bonanno e Gabriella Pironti, Carocci, Roma 2011.

C) Two articles of choice from the list that will be made available on Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 2026.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam. Interested students will have the option to replace a portion of the exam with a practical assessment, which will involve presenting in class on a topic related to the subject matter of the exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam will assess the following skills: the quality, proficiency, and confidence in delivering the presentation; a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter; the ability to reason, establish logical connections, and employ specialized vocabulary; and the aptitude for reading, analyzing, and comprehending texts.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Regular attendance at lessons is strongly encouraged. Students who are unable to attend are kindly requested to contact the Professor.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Professor Elisabetta Colagrossi (Elisabetta.Colagrossi@unige.it), the Department's disability liaison.